Have you ever gazed at a port of call over the railing of a cruise ship and wished that you could really experience the culture – the sights, smells, textures, sounds and flavors – of the place you are visiting? The Excursion Society makes that kind of experience possible.

Three years ago, Cruise Holidays launched the Excursion Society, a unique shore excursion program. This popular program offers unusual, complimentary shore excursions exclusively to it members – cruise guests who seek truly memorable, distinctive experiences while on shore. The Society’s excursions are available on selected Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises.

When Holland America’s Zuiderdam stops in Oranjestad, Aruba, on November 6, for her 10-DAY PANAMA CANAL SUNFARER cruise, Excursion Society members will have the opportunity to experience the island’s artistic side. First up is a visit to Fort Zoutman, which dates from 1796 and is among the island’s oldest structures. The fort’s restored tower, the Willem III Tower, now houses the Fort Zoutman Museum. The museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts from the early days of civilization on Aruba.
From this immersion in Aruba’s past, the group will transition to the island’s vibrant present with a visit to the Access Art Gallery in the heart of Oranjestad. Here, Excursion Society members will not only browse the gallery’s works – they will have the opportunity to talk with local artists during a lecture and reception. A lunch of delicious local specialties will follow.

The group will top off its excursion with a tour of Aruba’s Numismatic Museum, which has coins from more than 400 countries. The amazing 40,000-piece collection was assembled by three generations of an Aruban family.

If you would like to experience this and other shore excursions that go beyond the ordinary, ask us how you can join the Excursion Society.

A memorable cruise is about more than the ship and the itinerary – it’s also about what you do on shore. When you’re a member of Cruise Holidays’ Excursion Society, your cruise experience can include a unique, private and complimentary shore excursion.

On Celebrity Cruises’ 12-night “Classical Mediterranean Cruise” departing August 14 from Barcelona, the Excursion Society will provide its members with such an opportunity. After docking in Civitavecchia, Italy, society members will follow the footsteps of the Popes through Rome and Vatican City.

The adventure begins with a ride through the lovely countryside along the Tyrrhenian coast to the Eternal City of Rome. You’ll visit the Lateran area of the city, where the Popes lived before moving to the Vatican district. Your guide will take you to the Cathedral of Rome – the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. There, you’ll be awed by the Scala Sancta – the Holy Stairs climbed by Jesus – and the Sancta Santorum, the private chapel of the Popes.  It’s a powerful experience for visitors of all religious backgrounds.

Then, you’ll be transported to the Vatican, viewing exceptional landmarks such as the Colosseum and Venice Square along the way. In the Vatican district, you’ll be refreshed by an authentic Italian lunch, including fine Italian wine.

After lunch, you’ll visit other magnificent sites that are important in Papal history. The first will be St. Angel Castle, built in the second century as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and used as a fortress by the Popes. You can climb to the top of the castle for a rooftop view of Rome. Finally, you’ll see St. Peter’s Basilica, the grandest Christian church in the world. The beautiful treasures within include Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s gilt baldachin over the high altar. You and your companions will have much to discuss as you ride back to the ship.

The Excursion Society’s shore excursions are featured on a number of Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line sailings during 2009.

To join the society (it’s easy), give me a call.